Check-book



Patented May 30, l33

* UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE-V MARIO DI GmoLAMo, RALPH H. KNAUB, AND wInLIAMfL. LAwson, or BRooKnYN, NEW YORK, nssrenons T0 wnrrnnonsn LEATHER rnonncrs 00., mc., on Bacon-- LYN, NEW YORK, a oon-roaarion or NEW YORK i CHECK-BOOK Application filed February a, 1932. Serial to. 590,616.

This invention relates to check books or the like, and more particularly, to improved means for securing checks, such as travelers checks, in such books.

An object of the invention, hence, resides in the provision of means of this character which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient to use. Another object is the provision of such means including a member adapted to overlie the securing means, in order to produce a neatappearance. Still another object is to provide an edge for aiding in severing of a check when it is to be detached. A further object is to provide such a construction which lies flat before the checks are secured in place and which is not bulky or cumbersome when in use. Other objects and advantages of the construction will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a check book or backer having improved fastening means in accordance with the invention, as manufactured ready for distribution. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the construction with checks secured thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.1 showing a modification of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

There is shown at 6 a backer of any suitable material, preferably fiexible leather or cloth, somewhat larger than the size of the checks which it is to carry, and provided with the usual snap fastener elements 7 and 8, for securing the ends of the backer when they are folded over, the portion of fastener 7 which engages the fastener element 8 being on the outside of the backer. However, any suitable fastener may be used, and the hacker folded in any desired manner.

Secured across one end of the hacker there is shown a strip 9 of relatively stiff material such as metal, which may be fastened to the hacker by staples or rivets 10. This strip 9 is shown provided with prongs 11 which are preferably narrower than the strip and extend outwardly therefrom towards the sides of the backer. The staples are preferably located adjacent the ends of member!) and between the inner ends of the prongs. Also formed integral with the strip 9 there is a strip 12 which in the positionshown in Fig. 1 lies outside the area of the backer. This strip 12 is shown connected to the strip 9 by means of legs l adjacent either end of the latter strip. WVhen itis desired to place the checks 14; in the backer, the prongs-11 may be bent upwards, and inserted through holes formed in the ends of the checks. The prongs may then be bent down overythe checks as shown in Fig. 4 preferably toward the outside edges of the backer, and will thus secure the checks in backer. The strip 12 may then, by virtue of the legs 13, be bent over on top of the ends of the checks, and on top of the prongs 11, the legs lying across the ends of the checks, as shown in Fig. i.

Inthis way, it will be appreciated that the securing means for the checks may be constructed of a single piece of material, and may advantageously be stamped out of a metal such as aluminum or brass. Bypro- 'viding the legs 13, the integral nature of the construction is preserved and, at the same time, the strip 12 may be bent over on top of the checks with facility, and without fracturing the metal. The strip 12 besides lending a neat appearance to the finished article provides means for permitting easy severing of the checks when they are removed from the backer. That is, the edge 15 of the strip 12 serves as a knife edge along which the checks may be torn off, as shown in Fig. 3, the edge preferably lying substantially parallel to the ends of the checks. This construction has the additional advantagethat the checks will not need to be perforated between their portions which aresecured to the backer and the checks proper.- The present construction is thus notonly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but also very easy and convenient to handle; at the sametime it requires a minimum amount of space.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 has many of the advantages of the preferred construction of Figs. 14, and is somewhat simpler to make. In this form, the prongs 11 are shown cut-away as at 16, preferably at either rial and means for securing the checks to side, with the result that the bending of the prongs is simplified and that the line of the bend is more accurately located. Moreover, danger of fracturing of the metal, which must of necessity besomewhat soft to permit it to be easily bent, is thus practically avoided. This is particularly important in the case of aluminum, which is preferred for present purposes. It will be appreciated 7 that this feature is also applicable to the construction of Figs. 14.

While the invention has been specifically described in conjunction with travelers checks, it will be apparent that the utility of the invention is by no means restricted thereto and that checks, slips, or the like, of various types, may be readily carried in lieu of travelers checks in the improved check book which we have provided.

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What we claim is:

1. In a check book for carrying travelers checks, a backer comprising a sheet of material and means for securing the checks to the backer comprising an integral member including prongs, means for permanently securing the member across one end of the backer between the inner ends of the prongs, and aportion integral with said member and adapted to be bent thereover when the checks are in place. 7

2. In a check book for carrying travelers checks, a hacker comprising a sheet of material and means for securing the checks to the backer comprising an integral member including prongs, means for permanently securing the member across one end of the backer between the inner ends of the prongs, and a portion integral with said member and adapted to be bent thereover when the checks are in place, said portion having a tearing edge adapted to lie substantially parallel to the ends of the checks.

3. In a check book for carrying travelers checks, a backer comprising a sheet of material and means for securing the checks to the hacker comprising an integral member including prongs, means for permanently securing the member across one end of the hacker between the inner ends of the prongs, and a portion spaced from but integrally connected with said member by spaced legs, said portion being adapted to be bent thereover when the checks are in place.

4:. In a check book for carrying travelers checks, a backer comprising a sheet of matethe backer comprising an integral stamped metal member secured to the backer and comprising a portion across one end of the backer, prongs extending outwardly from said portion, spaced legs also extending from said portion, and a portion at the ends of said legs adapted to overlie the first-named portion. MARIO DI GIROLAMO. WILLIAM L. LAWSON. RALPH H. KNAUB. 

